Rail-securing device.



A. STARK.'

RAIL SEGURING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI: ze, 1913.

Patented myA 5. 1914.

A! 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Men/?" 47a c'few S 21,7176

A. STARK.

RAIL SGURING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE ze, 1913.

1,095,432, Patented May 5, 1914;

CQLUMIHMFLANOGRAPH C0.. WASHINTON. D. c.

spike member unless sutlicient torce is employed to actually rend the tie itselt.

ldllnle in the direction transverse to the rail the key member, 3, is of varying' hickness so as to constitute a vredge, it will be understood from Fig. 4t that the Width ot this member in the transverse direction (that in the direction of extent ot the track) is practically uniform, and may he equal to or greater than the uniform Width of the front tace ot the spike member, A. ln this Way, the Wedge key furnishes z greater bearing area tor the securing' device against the material ot the tie than is afforded by the tapering rear tace ot the spike member itselt; and by properly proportioning these elements to the crushing` strength ot the tie, it is evident that a fastening may be pro-- vided which will have to actually bend in order to permit lateral movement ot the rail, C. By virtue ot the two-part construction ot this fastening device, the Withdrawal of the ive( ge key, B, permits the removal oit the entire fastening Without injury to the tie, and it desired may he replaced in the same hole ot the tie Without any sacrilice ot security, since its tightness in the tie de pends merely upon the extent to which the Wedge key, B, is driven doivn. rlhus a Worn rail may be quickly removed and replaced by a new rail without changing the ties or Without driving` new spikes into new holes. Fig. 5 suggests a modilication ot the spike member which Would permit the replacement of one size of rail by a ditiercnt size Without 'forming neiv holes in the ties to receive the fastening devices. lt consists in providing a slightly longer overhanging head portion, dit, than the head, fil, shown in Fig. l, but limiting the engagement ot such head with the rail flange. C1, by torniing stop shoulder, A5, on the under side ot such head. It then the track were originally laid with comparatively light rails secured by the form ot spike shown in ltig. 5, these rails could later be replaced With heavier ones and secured by the :term ot fastening shoivn in Fig. l set into the same hole was originally occupied by the type ot Fig. 5.

Figs. G to J illustrate the application ot the invention to molded concrete ties, Fig. t3 indicating that it is only necessary to mold the concrete tie, E, with a mortise, El, in which the same form ot fastening may be employed as is shown for use in Wooden ties. However, since for this use the sharpened point et the spike member, A, is not essential, and since nothing is gained by the thinu ning of the rear tace ol said member, it is deemed preferable to employ a specially formed spike member, A10. This member may be cast or forged with 'front and rear faces both ot uniform width, and tor the sake ot economy ot material its cross section may be reduced to form a Web at, AH. (Seo lfio, t). The key member, B, is practically .identical with the keys shown in the pre* ceding figures. Fig. 7 illustrates a torni oit spike member77 corresponding to the pointed form shown in 5, having the shoulder, ik", positioned on the under side otl the ;eilmiigiiig head, JU, and Fig. S illustrates the. torni corresponding to the pointed spike shoivn in Fig. l, anc further indicates an additional use ot this shape ot fastening, viz.. tor accomniodating the tish plate, C2, at. the rail joint` l)retc1:ably, all concrete ties which are designed to receive these. tastcniugs will be cast with a notch, l?, at the upper end ot the mortise, El, so as to permit the shoulder, ik, to extend someivh: below the top surtace ot the rail to more cei ainly prevent the rail tiange, C1, trom ivoi' ing laterally under this shoulder and causing even a slight spreading of the rails. Although this notch, E2, will have no function when the term. ot hook or spike member shoivn in Fig. 8 is erployed, its presence ivill not atleet the stability of the rail since the latter does not rest directly on the concrete but upon cushion blocks, E3, lodged in the tie, E.

TJnoer normal conditions, as already eX- plained.v any lifting torce tending to draiv the spike member troni the tie, it it did produce anjT movement ot' this member of the fastening, would necessarily cause slippage between said member `and the Wedge key, thus increasing the effective Width ot the fastening and checking further movement.

lt is deemed preferable, however, in forming the mortise, El, in the concrete tie to make its opposing Walls, Et and E5, taper divergently doivinvard, so that it tor any reason the trictional engagement ot the spike member and Wedge key vith cach other should. prove stronger than the iction oit said members against the material ot' the tie, it would still be impossible tor any litting torce to materially loosen the fastening. Similarly in the case of Wooden ties the members, A and l?, may be so proportioned that when secured in position. as indicated in il. their aggregate Width is greater near the lower end than at the upper end; but, this construction need in. no Way interfere with the intentional removal ot the tastening by tirst withdrawing the Wedge keiy l.

is well known, it is frequently necessary to shim up a rail :tor 17e-leveling the track, and Where Wooden ties are used the rail graduallyv sinks into the Wood of the ties leaving the spike heads out ot contact With the rail Hangs, and it becomes necessary to tap the spikes down to render the rails se cure. My fastening device permits all such adjustments to be made Without ditliculty by reason ot the tact that the tace ot the spike member which engages the tie is entirely plain, that is, without serrations or projections such as would positively engage the material of the tie as distinguished from the purely frictional engagement which is obtained with this plain surface. The compressive act-ion of the wedge key, B, may at any time be momentarily overcome by a quick tapupon the head of the spike member, A, and the wedge key can be simultaneously withdrawn with any convenient tool. rihis permits the complete removal of the fastening or its readjustment to any desired posit-ion, with no sacrifice of efficiency asa rail fastening in such new position.

lf desired, the spike member having the shoulder, A5, may be employed to prevent rail creeping by notching either the rail flange at C5, or the fish plate at Ct, at the rail lioint to accommodate this shoulder, A5, as indicated in 1l, l2 and 13. In most situations, the notohing of the fish plates at the joints would be sufhcient, and with this ar- Y' rangement it will be seen that only one form of spike member would be needed for a given installation, the shoulders, A5, of the spike members serving to position the rails laterally, as previously explained, and said shoulders being accommodated in the notches, C4, in the fish plates at each rail joint, thus obviating the use of the special form of spike member shown in Fig'S.

I claim:-

l. A rail fastening, comprising a spike member having a head for engaging the rail ange and a body portion widening downwardly from said head, the lower end of said body portion being sharpened to adapt said spike member to be driven into a tie, and means for retaining said spike member in the tie.

2. A rail fastening comprising a spike member having a head for engaging the rail flange and a body portion widening downwardly from said head, one face of said body portion being plain and the lower end of said body being beveled back from said face to form a chisel point, and a wedge key of opposite taper adapted for insertion in the tie against the opposite face of said spike body for maintaining frictional engagement of said plain face with the tie.

3. A rail fastening comprising a spike member having a head for enga ging the rail flange and a body portion widening downwardly from said head, one face of said body portion being plain and of uniform width throughout its length. the lower end of said body being beveled back from said face to a heel to form a chisel point, said body tapering in thickness from said plain face to a minimum value at said heel, and a wedge key narrowing downwardly and adapted for insertion in the tie against the opposite face of said spike body for maintaining frictional engagement of its said plain face with the tie.

4:. A rail fastening comprising a spike member having a head for engaging the rail flange and a body portion widening downwardly from said head, the front face of said body portion toward the rail being plain and of uniform width throughout its length, the lower end of said body being beveled back from said face to a heel to form a chisel point, said body tapering in thickness from said plain face to a minimum value at said heel, and a wedge key narrowing downwardly and adapted for insertion in the tie against the rear face of said spike body for maintaining frietional engagement of its said plain face with the tie'.

5. In combination with a railway tie and a rail lodged thereon, said tie being formed with a mortise substantially perpendicular to its rail-supporting surface, the opposing walls of said mortise being approximately parallel, a rail fastening composed of a spike member having a head for engaging the rail flange and a body portion widening downwardly from said head, one face of said body portion being plain and adapted for frictional engagement with one of said opposing walls of the mortise, and a. wedge kev -of opposite taper adapted for insertion in said mortise against the opposite face of said spike body for maintaining such fiictional engagement of its pla-in face with the tie.

G. ln combination with a railway tie and a rail lodged thereon, said tie having a vertical mortise formed with a pair of opposing walls slightly divergent downward, a rail fastening composed of a spike member having a head for engaging the rail flange, and a body portion widening downwardly from said head, one face of said body portion being plain and adapted for frictional engagement with one of the said diverging walls of the mortise, and a wedge key of opposite taper adapted for insertion in said mortise against the opposite face of said spike body for maintaining such frictional engagement of its plain face with the tie.

7. A rail fastening, comprising a member having a head for engaging the rail liange and a body portion adapted for insertion in a tie, and means for securing said body portion in the tie; said member 'having aV shoulder formed on the under side of its head for engaging the rail flange to correctly position the rail on the tie.

8. A rail fastening composed of a spike member having a head for engaging the rail flange and a body portion widening downwardly from said head, and a wedge key of opposite taper adapted for insertion in the tie against said spike member, said member having a shoulder formed on the under side of its head for engaging the rail llange to correctly position the rail on the tie.

9. ln combination with a railway tie and a rail lodged thereon, said tie having a vertical mortise `termed with a pair of opposing` walls approximately parallel, a rail tastening comprising' a spike member having` a head for engaging` the rail flange, and a body portion widening' downwardly from said head, and a wedge key of opposite taper adapted for insertion in the tie against the spike member, said member having; a shoulder formed on the ander side of its head for engaging the rail flange to correctly position the rail on the tie, and said tie haring' a. notch in its upper surface positioned and dimensioned to accommodate the lower portion of said shoulder.

l0. in combination with a railway tie and a rail lodged thereon, said tie hzwinge,` a vertical mortise formed with a. pair of opposing walls approximately parallel, a rail fasteningrf comprising; a spike member having a head :tor engaging' the rail flange and a body portion widening' downwardly from said head, and a wedge key of opposite taper adapted for insertion in the tie against the spike member, one tace of said spike bot y being; plain and adapted for frictional engagement with one of said opposing; Valls oit the mortise, said spike member having a shoulder formed on the under side of its head for engaging the rail flange to correctly position the rail on the tie, and said tie haring' a notch in its upper surface positioned and dimensioned to accommodate the lower portion of said shoulder.

ll. ln combination with a railway'tie and ay rail lodged thereon, said tie having' a vertical mortise formed with a pair ot opposinn` walls approximately parallel; a rail fastening' comprising' a spike member haw in O` a head tor engaging the rail flange, and a body portion widening` downwardly from said head, and a wedge lrey of opposite taper adapted for insertion in. the tie against the spike member, one tace of said spike body beine' plain and adapted for frietional enlargement with one of said opposing' walls ot the mortise, said spike member having' a shoulder' formed on the under side of its head, the rail being provided with means for embracing said shoulder, and said tie having a notch in its upper surface positioned and dimensioned to accommodate the lower por tion of the shoulder, whereby the rail is secured against creeping.

ln testimony whereof, l have hereunto set may hand at Chicago, illinois, this 23d day of June, i913.

ANDREV STARK.

lllitnesses lion'r. N. Enna M.

BURtroN, litiaoln'rosn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. C. 

